Unveiling the Mystery Behind Mars' Record-Breaking Quake

Scientists have determined that the strongest marsquake ever recorded on Mars, a magnitude 4.7 quake, was not caused by an asteroid impact but rather by tectonic forces within the planet itself. This discovery suggests that Mars is more seismically active than previously thought. The quake, which lasted for a record six hours, was detected by NASA's InSight lander in May 2022. Unlike Earth, Mars is believed to lack plate tectonics, but the new study suggests that the release of billion-year-old stress within Mars' crust, due to differential cooling and shrinking rates, can cause seismic activity. Understanding these processes could help determine safe areas for human habitation on Mars.